Dental x-ray film holder



April 24, 1928.

T. E. SIKES DENTAL X-RAY FILM HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

.Filed April 17 1926 Z9 3677700706 E l'lfe,

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wf ,m1, m 3 m l zo Patented Apr. 24,1928.

,UNITED STATES y THOMAS slxns, oFeRnENsBoRO, Non'rn CAROLINA. f

DENTAL X-RAY FILM HOLDER.l i n f vkapplicati@ mea april `17, i926. serial No. 162,751.

This invention apporf'ains to X-ray machines and more particularlyito a novel film holder fora dental X-ray machine. y

The primary object of the present jinvenl tion is to provide novel means for support- 1 img a, film bya portion ofthe X-ray machine itself, thereby eliminating'the necessity. of -the film plate being heldrbyfthe patient or by some other extraneousmeans.` g, VAnother object ofthe inventionisl the provision of a novel case or holder for the film vitself whereby the film ivillbe held against contactgwith portions of the mouth, the

holderbeing smooth to the touch and. caus- Y 15 ing no irritation ofthe tissues of the mouth,

andy novel means for adjustably connecting the case or film holderwith the -X-ray ma chine, the film holder being freelyremovable from said means to permit the easyl y 'holder,'

sterilization thereof. i

A further object lof the` inventionnis the provision of'a holderzor film support for slidahly receiving the film plate, the holder' positively engaging the film throughout the i entire area thereof, thereby holding the filmagainst distortion `or VfleXing movement whereby the difficulties contingent with thel flexingof thefilm is entirely eliminated resulting in a perfect picture of the tooth or` p Cates an X-ray machine 'and B thenovel 85 0 teeth being taken and surrounding'areas.

A further objectofthe invention is ther provisionof novel'meansfor associating the support for the film holder with the X- ray machine Wherebyrpthe holdercan be adjusted relative to the machine and to the patient', the support or holder beingalso made adjustable-to a Vnumber' of different positions tov effectively take care of the po,

`sition of vthe film holder inthe mouth and theiconfiguration of the mouth or jaw n y i A still further object of 'theinvention is to provide an X-ray filmfholder for dentall X-ray machines of the ,above character, `which Will bedurable and eflicientinnse, one that Will be simple and easy to manui facture and onefwhieh can be placed upon the market and incorporated with a conventional Xray machine at .asmall cost.

' lVith these andy other objects in vie\v,the invention consists 1n the novelrconstruction,

arrangement and formation of parts, as ivill be hereinafter more specifically described,

claimed, and illustrated in the accompany-` ing drawings, in which drawings:

- 55 Figure V1 isV aside elevation of, theZ im,

u ment,

fline ,lf-4 of 'Figure 2 fReferring vto `the 4drawings y whereinksimilar reference characters desig 'X-ray machine showing ,the samefin use,

,jv Figure 2 is a froijitelevation of th'e'attachis a topplan viewof the same', i?, 80 ,y Figure fljis a kdetail rsectifmithrough,the retaining collar and adjustable ringponl the "j Figur Figure 5`is aldetailsection taken on the line lie-,5 of Figure 3 illustrating the means4 65 'for adjustably connectingv the parts'of the supporting frame together, e

Figure -6 is a front elevation of one ofthe film holders which can be used when X-,rays are being ftaken off the molar teeth,

` Figure is an end levation of the holder,vv

f f Figure" ,82 is a detaily section through the holder y taken on ,the vline L 8-8 of Figure i6' showing one of the films being slid into "the l Figure 9 is a` front elevation ofa smaller size of holder `which can be used for `the incisors, f l' `Figure 10 is a rear elevation ofthe smaller helder. i ,B0

inf detail, d

nate corresponding parts `throughout the several views, the letter A generally indithe film holder 45.

The frame 2Oy ncludes a pair of ytelescop- ,ing L-shaped members 21 and 22 which are Y 'preferably made ofr nonfelectric'conductmg material such as hard rubber, fiber or Vthe 100 like.A ,The member 21 -includes 'the relative-4 ly long legu23 andthe relatively short `right angularlyextending leg" 24, These `legs are of a hollow/formation as shown. The member v2.2 `also consists of theright angularly los f extending legs 25`a11d26 and the leg 25 is `telescdpieally mounted in the leg 23. The

leg 25 `is preferably provided withy equi distantly `spaced seats 27 into` anyoneof which is adapted to'seat anV adjustable thumb 11e usual tubelly rand the coveringor casing 16 90 screw 28 carried by the :tree end of the arm 23 whereby the members 21 and 22 can be held in an adjusted position relative to one another. The free end of the leg 24 of the member 21 is provided with an adjustable cufl' 3l is 'provided with an annular rabbeted portion 32 on its outer face for the reception of a retaining ring 33 utilized for rotatably holding the collar or supporting ring 34 on the attaching collar or c-utli` 31. Holding screws 35 extend through the ring 33 andthe cuff or collar 31 for impin ing against the covering 16 for rigidly hol ingy the collar or culi' 31 in place against accidental movement. As stated the ring 34 is freely rotatable on the attaching` collar or cuff' 31 and the same can bc held in an adjusted position thereon by a thumb screw 36 associated with the ring 34 for engaging the said collar or cuif 31. The ring or collar 34is provided with a radially extending shank 37 which is adjustably mounted in the hollow leg 24 of the member 21 ofthe frame 20. If preferred the rotatable ring or collar 34 can be graduated as at 38 so as to facilitate the adjusting of the frame 20 on the machine A. The thumb screw 29 is adapted to impinge against the shank 37 for adjustably holding the frame 20 varying distances radially of the machine A. If preferred the shank 37 can be provided with equidistantly spaced seats 38 for receiving the thumb screw 29.

The adjusting arm 40 for the film holder 45 is slidably mounted withinY the hollow arm 26 of the member 22 of the frame 20 and is provided with equidistantly spaced seats 41 into any one of which is adapted to fit an adjustable thumb screw 42 carried by the free end of the arm or leg 26 whereby the holder 45 can be adjusted varying distances relative to the frame 20. The outer end of the arm 40 is preferably flattened or reduced in diameter as at 43 for a purpose, which will be hereinafter more fully described and the extreme outer end of the arm is provided with a transversely extending opening 44 for a purpose, which will also hereinafter appear.

In Figures 6 to 10 inclusive I have shown a preferred form of holder for the X-ray film 46 and these holders are adapted to be made in varying sizes so as to facilitate the taking of the X-ray pictures of the dierent teeth. The holder shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive can be considered as the largest type for taking pictures of the molars while the holder shown in Figures 9 and 10 can be of the smallesttype for taking pictures of the cuspids or incisore. There can be varying sizes of the holders between the two sizes illustrated. Y

The holders 45 forni lone of the salient features of the invention and are preferably made from cast aluminum suitably polished so as not to cause discomfortwhen placed in the mouth of the patient. Each holder consists of a front and rear wall 47 and 48, a bottom wall 49 and side walls 50. The walls 47 and 48 are arranged parallel to one another so as to preclude all possibility of the flexing of the film or any distortionthereof and these walls engage the entire area of the front and rear faces of the lm. As shown the film 46 is introduced into the holder through the upper open end thereof and the upperedge of the Vfrontwall 47 can be provided witha notch 51 to facilitateVv the withdrawal of the film after the picture 4 has been taken. A threaded stud 52 is carried by the center of the rear wall 48 and is rotatably mounted in the ,opening 44 in the outer end of the adjusting arm 40. A suitable thumbnut 53 is mounted'upon the stud for engaginglthearn'1`40 so as to hold the film holder 45 in correct adjusted position on the said arm. f y

In use of the improved device B, the same is attached to the machinev A as heretofore described and the .desired size of holder 45 is connected -to the outer end of the arm 40 and locked in the desired position according to which tooth is to be X-rayed. The film is now slipped in theV holder and the frame 20, the arm 40 and the shank 37 in the :frame is adjusted according `vto vthe facial characteristics of the patient and the ring is adjusted on the holding collar 31. The film lwill be held in the correct position in the mouth without distortion and without aid from the patient.

Changes in details kmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but:

What I claim as new is: i

1. The combination with an X-raymachine, of a film holder for receiving and maintaining the film in a fiat condition against distortion, a ring rotatably mounted "los upon the X-ray machine, a substantiallyr U- shaped frame connecting the film holder with the rotatable ring, and means for adjusting the frame to conform to the facial characteristics `of the patient on which the machine is used.V

2. The combinationwith an X-ray machine including a tube and a covering for the tube, of a holder for the X-ray film, a supporting culi' secured to the covering for the tube, a ring rotatably mounted upon the cuff, means adjustably holding the ring in place on the cufl", an adjustable vU-shaped frame having one arm connected with and Ley/,44a Y 3. The combination with' an X-ray ina-- chine including a bulb and a covering therefor, of a lm holder including front and rear walls for snugly receiving a film therebetween, a U-shaped frame Vincluding a pair N of telescopic L-shaped sections, means holding the sections Vin adjusted position Ielative to one another, a ring rotatably mounted upon the covering for the tube of the X- n ray machine, means holding the ring in adjusted position on the machine, a radially extending shank adjustably connected with one arm of the frame, a movable arm adjustably carried'by the other arm` of the frame, and means for adjustably connecting the film holder With'the movable arm.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` THOMAS E. SIKES. 

